Pep Guardiola urges a practical rule change after a City star misses the Carabao Cup final
But first, a quick hello to the situation that has fans buzzing. Pep Guardiola isn’t just focused on the upcoming trophy clash; he’s pushing for a sensible tweak to the rules that could affect how Manchester City assembles its squad for big matches. If the change happens, it could alter who’s available for crucial games and how clubs plan their signings and transfers.
In Friday’s FA Cup victory over Salford City, Manchester City secured a 2-0 win and booked a spot in the FA Cup fifth round. The moment that drew attention came when Marc Guehi, City’s January purchase from Crystal Palace, stepped off the bench to score. This goal, his first for City, came despite Guehi having played for his former club in the same FA Cup competition earlier in the season.
The FA Cup has revised its policy this season to permit players to appear for more than one club within the same campaign. However, this relaxation does not apply to the Carabao Cup. Under the current Carabao Cup rules, Guehi remains ineligible for the final, while another case—Antoine Semenyo’s transfer from Bournemouth—could allow him to feature in City’s final against Arsenal.
The key difference lies in transfer timing. Semenyo’s move to City was completed before the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Newcastle, which satisfies the competition’s eligibility requirement. Guehi’s transfer, by contrast, occurred after the relevant deadline, leaving him unable to play at Wembley in the final. City have formally petitioned the Football League to grant Guehi an exception, a point Guardiola reiterated after the Salford match.
Guardiola explained the logic to the BBC: Guehi cannot play in the Carabao Cup final despite being eligible in the FA Cup. He questioned the consistency of allowing him to participate in one competition while barring him from another, calling for “common sense” to prevail.
Guehi came on for John Stones in the second half and breezed through a tough game that featured a stern challenge from Salford. His late moment of impact helped secure progress for City and offered some relief after a demanding three-week stretch with several fixtures.
Guardiola continues to lament the disparate rules and their practical effects on a club’s planning and performance. He has spoken publicly about his hope that a rule adjustment could arrive in March, allowing Guehi to be eligible for the final while City manages the demands of their schedule.
Beyond the immediate controversy, Guardiola’s stance invites broader questions about how transfer rules shape team strategy. Should Cup eligibility be harmonized across competitions to prevent paradoxes like Guehi’s, or is there merit in keeping distinct rules for each tournament? And does this situation reveal a deeper tension between big clubs investing heavily in players and the governing bodies that regulate competition?
What do you think? Should the governing bodies align Cup eligibility to avoid scenarios like Guehi’s, or should each competition retain its own rules even if it creates edge cases? Share your thoughts in the comments and tell us whether you agree with Guardiola’s call for common-sense reform—or if you believe the current framework should stay as is.
